Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Nov 8: Central Railway (CR) has prohibited any form of protest or agitation at the concourse area of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) following Thursday’s disruption, when suburban services were paralysed during peak hours. The chaos was sparked by outrage among railway unions after the Government Railway Police (GRP) filed an FIR against two CR engineers in connection with the June 9 Mumbra train mishap that killed five people.

The CSMT concourse, located near the motormen’s lobby, is a crucial passenger transit and crew movement zone. The blockade, which lasted from 5:50 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., prevented motormen and guards from reporting for duty, halting services across Mumbai’s busy suburban network. A CR official confirmed that while no formal permission was granted for the gathering, unions have now been instructed not to hold protests or dharnas that obstruct staff or passengers.

The agitation began with a peaceful demonstration by the National Railway Mazdoor Union (NRMU) but later intensified when members of the Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh (CRMS) joined in, effectively bringing operations to a halt. CR headquarters has since sought a detailed report from the Mumbai suburban division on how the disruption occurred.

A senior GRP officer said the investigation would continue unaffected, with police examining whether the engineers’ alleged negligence warranted charges of culpable homicide. The officer added that although the GRP had prior intimation of the union protest, it “never anticipated” the demonstration would block the motormen’s lobby and cripple train movement.

CRMS president Pravin Bajpai described the protest as “spontaneous,” denying any deliberate attempt to obstruct operations. He also questioned the GRP’s reliance on a report by the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), claiming the institute lacked the technical expertise to assess track geometry.

However, legal experts said the “spontaneous” argument does not absolve responsibility. Senior advocate Satish Maneshinde noted that while proving criminal negligence may be complex, the entire sequence of events must be examined. Advocate Atal Dubey added that the sudden stoppage of essential public transport violated the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, which mandates advance notice before any strike. “Such unannounced disruptions during peak hours endanger thousands of commuters and breach their right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution,” he said.

Criminal lawyer Nitin Pradhan said union members who blocked train operations could face serious charges. “Preventing motormen from performing their duties constitutes gross criminal negligence and may even attract culpable homicide charges under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” he warned.

Meanwhile, passenger associations have demanded strict action against those responsible. Madhu Kotian of the Mumbai Railway Pravasi Sangh questioned why passengers were “held hostage” when the GRP had already conducted an expert inquiry.

The FIR, filed on November 1 after an investigation led by ACP S. Shirsat, alleges that Mumbra station officials had alerted the Thane engineering section about displaced ballast and a sinking platform stretch due to rain, but no preventive measures were taken. NCP (SP) leaders in Thane have also sought clarity on the conflicting findings of the GRP and CR inquiries, while commuter groups have demanded a judicial probe, claiming warnings about the dangerous curve near Mumbra were ignored.